Nomophobia, the fear of being without a mobile phone, has become an alarming issue, especially among children and teenagers. As smartphones have become an essential part of everyday life, many young people are developing an unhealthy dependence on them. This issue is worsened because parents are often preoccupied with work, leaving them with less time to engage with or supervise their children. As a result, children are more prone to excessive phone use, leading to smartphone addiction and online child abuse.
While it may feel like there’s no way to reverse these trends, there are certainly ways we can minimize their impact. In this article, I will be discussing online child abuse, examples, laws and regulations, and minimizing ways for this issue.
How online gaming fuel online child abuse
Rising threat of digital addiction
One major issue contributing to online abuse is online game addiction. As per ChildSafeNet, a staggering 85.85% of children and young people access the internet via mobile devices, and many of them are hooked on online gaming. This has become a source of constant frustration for parents.
On top of this, the effects on their mental health are undeniable. As they immerse themselves in these games, they often exhibit signs of distress – becoming short-tempered, anxious, and even experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts. It doesn’t stop there. The allure of adult content, which many children are exposed to at an early age, adds another layer of concern.
Gendered realities and parental neglect
Sadly, the issues of online abuse manifest differently based on gender. In many cases, girls face higher rates of online abuse, while boys are more likely to struggle with gaming addiction. However, perhaps the most troubling factor is that many parents are unaware of or neglectful of their children’s online activities. This could be due to a lack of knowledge or simply turning a blind eye to avoid confronting the uncomfortable truth.
As someone who deeply cares about the well-being of children, I believe we must work together to raise awareness, take proactive steps to address these issues, and create a safer environment for the next generation. There’s no quick fix, but we can certainly minimize the harm through education, open communication, and more responsible parenting.
Nation at risk
While researching this topic, I was shocked to discover some of the alarming statistics related to child abuse and internet security in Nepal.
Currently, Nepal ranks 109th out of 160 countries on the National Cyber Security Index and 94th on the National Cyber Security Index, indicating significant gaps in our cybersecurity infrastructure. The country also stands at 140th on the ICT Development Index, revealing a need for substantial progress in the digital world.
One of the most disturbing findings comes from the Nepal Police Headquarters Crime Investigation Department, which reported 314 cases of child sexual abuse in the fiscal year 078/79. However, this is just a fraction of the actual cases, which probably represents less than 20% of the total abuse.
There’s more!
In 2020, Children’s Workers in Nepal (CWIN) conducted a study on online sexual exploitation, and the results were deeply concerning. The study found that many children had dropped out of school due to the trauma caused by online exploitation. A disturbing 63.36% of males and 34.35% of females reported being pressured into showing themselves naked in front of a camera, this highlights the vulnerability of children in the digital space.
On an international scale, the situation is equally disturbing. According to a report by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), there were 392,665 reports of suspected child sexual abuse imagery in 2023. Of these, 275,652 URLs were confirmed to contain such imagery, demonstrating the global scale of the problem.
These statistics are a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved cybersecurity, greater awareness, and stronger protections for children both online and offline.
How is the Government tackling this?
While the issue of online child sexual abuse continues to rise every day, it’s alarming to note that there are still no specific, fully implemented rules to address this growing problem. In response to the increasing concern, the National Child Rights Council issued the “Online Child Protection Procedure, 2078” (अनलाइन बाल सुरक्षा कार्यविधि, २०७८). Unfortunately, despite its issuance, this procedure has yet to be put into action.
In 2018, Nepal passed the Act Relating to Children (बालबालिका सम्बन्धी ऐन, २०७५), which explicitly recognizes child pornography, lewd images, and any related audio-video recordings as forms of online abuse. The law clearly states that anyone found guilty of such crimes could face a fine of NPR 75,000 and a prison sentence of up to three years. While the legal framework is in place, the challenge lies in its enforcement, and without effective implementation, these provisions remain largely symbolic rather than practical solutions to protect children from online exploitation.
This highlights a significant gap in the system—a gap that needs urgent attention and action from authorities, policymakers, and society at large to ensure that children are truly protected from online abuse.
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Real-life cases of online sexual abuse
I have collected a few stories of children who have been victimized by online sexual abuse. Recently a 14-year-old girl from Lalitpur has been a victim of online sexual abuse when her explicit images got leaked in her school group. She was tricked by someone presenting himself as a popular teen influencer who persuaded her into sharing her private photos assuring her to keep them safe between them. The girl has been mentally disturbed by this incident and by the time the victim’s parents knew about this incident, it was too late.
Moving on to the next issue posted by The Kathmandu Post, a 20-year-old male developed connections with a girl of 13 years via the online gaming app – Freefire. Later when they met in person the map raped the girl.
Internationally, the struggle against online abuse is the same!
Talking about an incident in India, in 2022 a 16-year-old kid from Lucknow shot his mother with a gun because she did not let him play an online game – PUGB. What can be more cruel than this?
We also have another story where a teenage boy lost RS 36 lakh which his family received as a monetary benefit after his father’s death, while playing online games.
Steps toward minimizing online child abuse
So far, I’ve discussed the serious issue of Child Online Abuse and things might have been a bit overwhelming to this point. Now I will guide you to the ways you can minimize this serious issue.
Firstly, parents need to be more mindful of how much attention they give to their phones in front of their kids. Additionally, parents should make use of “Parental Control” features on their phones (I will discuss this part in detail later).
Equally important is the role of the government. There needs to be stronger legislation around Online Child Sexual Abuse—whether that means enacting new laws or enforcing existing ones. The government should also implement phone addiction counseling services across the country and establish dedicated Mobile Addiction Centers to provide support.
Parental Control
Parental Control is a tool that helps parents monitor their children’s online activities. It allows them to see what their kids are doing on their phones, block inappropriate websites, and set time limits to prevent excessive phone use. This can help protect children from online dangers like cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content. By using Parental Controls, parents can take an active role in guiding their children through the digital world.
Get it on your phone!
Here is how you can install the parental control on your phone.
Setting Up Parental Control using the Google Play App
Follow these steps to set up parental controls via the Google Play app:
- Open the Play Store app on the device.
- Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Family > Parental controls.
- Turn on Parental controls.
- Set a PIN to protect your parental control settings from being changed by children.
- Select the type of content you want to filter (e.g., apps, games, movies).
- Choose how to filter or restrict access based on age ratings or content categories.
Setting Up Parental Control using Google Family Link
Google Family Link offers an additional layer of control for Android users. To set it up:
- Open the Family Link app on your phone.
- Select your child’s account.
- Tap Controls.
- Tap Content Restrictions.
- Choose the Google service you want to restrict (e.g., Google Play, YouTube, etc.).
- Set how to filter or restrict access to certain content.
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